LCAs or just bushings

[TheNewAmericanSpirit]

I'm slowly upgrading my suspension trying to narrow down my highway vibration problem and my next step is Lower Control Arms.

Question: Do I need whole new LCAs or just keep the ones I have and get polyurethane bushings? Is there a benefit to getting all new LCAs and then swapping to polyurethane bushings?

[jjk1224]

LCAs or just bushings

Are your tires properly balanced? Have your tires ever been repaired with the green stop leak foam stuff? Has your car sat for a long period of time? When there is a vibration at high speed, it usually means something is out of balance or loose.

Edit:
To answer your question, I would probably just buy new LCAs. I got a pair on eBay for like $40 that came with the bushings and have not had any problems with them.

[Prafeston]

How are your tires and wheels? Sometimes old tires can get out of balance. Also how are your bearings? My car shook a bunch on the Highway and I had a shop look at it and my rear wheel was wiggling back and forth. Needed new bearings bad. They replaced and it got rid of a lot of the shaking at higher speeds.

[TheNewAmericanSpirit]

Oh sorry, brand new wheels and tires that are properly balanced. All of my vibration under 55 is gone but the above 55 never changed. I can tell a huge difference and I was hopping that getting rid of the 12's and going to 14's wit proper tires would fix the problem but it only partially did.

[Prafeston]

Might still be a wheel bearing issue.

[jjk1224]

LCAs or just bushings

Are you using the stock lug studs? Do the centers of the new wheels fit snugly on the festiva hubs?

[FestYboy]

unlikely a bearing issue, i'll bet it's still an imballance issue... vibration at highway speeds. another possible solution is a bent CV axle... but i'd have the wheels balanced by another shop or maybe just another tech in the same shop. it also depends on HOW they balance the tire. i have my method and teach it to all the guys in the shop that will listen (i have "0" comebacks for tire imballance issues doing it this way).

[drumnerd33]

I agree any vibration over 55 would usually be in tire balance, could be a bent axle or unbalanced axle but very unlikely an axle is out of balance. you could pull the axles and have them checked at a local drive line shop. But my guess is still tires, ive had to go back 3 and 4 times to tire shops to have them balanced correctly.

[drumnerd33]

Also agree with festy boy its not going to be a bearing issue, bearings will give you a wha wha wha sound and will change when you turn and put different pressure on them. I also dont think your lca is going to make a difference, unless they need done anyway. you can check the ball joint on the lca by using a jack to lift one of the front tires just off the ground then take a crow bar or long pry bar and wedge it under the tire then lift up and down and see if there is any play in it....you will hear clunking if the ball joint is very worn.

[TorqueEffect]

yeah, I think I need my tires balanced as well.

Vibration at highway speeds.

Tried feeling for play in ball-joints with wheels off ground and there was none, they also look just fine, same with the bushings.

[drumnerd33]

Yeah i wouldnt do anything with lcas get your tires rebalanced that is the most common cause of vibration at highway speeds

[WmWatt]

Cheap test is to rotate tires and see if anything changes.

[TorqueEffect]

Cheap test is to rotate tires and see if anything changes.

yep, vibration got worse, and the vibration started at lower speeds.
Someone has balanced these wheels in the past, they got weights all over them but I bet it is time to have em balanced again.

I do know know my inner-tie rod boot on the passenger side has completely failed now which might be why I have a slightly vague steering feel at 65MPH+.

I think it will be a safe bet for me when I have the extra dough to completely redo the front.
LCAs with bushings, inner and outer tierods, also plan on doing a Rio strut swap.

[Aaronbrook37]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-lower-Control-Arms-TIE-END-Ford-FESTIVA-90-91-92-93-/160543333486?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item256120dc6e&vxp=mtr&_uhb=1#ht_1564wt_1140

I scored this package and then bought Aspire outer tie rods separately for my swap. Not a bad price, but I haven't installed them yet so I don't know if they're any good!

[TorqueEffect]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-lower-Cont...ht_1564wt_1140

I scored this package and then bought Aspire outer tie rods separately for my swap. Not a bad price, but I haven't installed them yet so I don't know if they're any good!

That looks tempting, will just need to get bushings.